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Michigan has season for catch and release only on bass.There are also catch and release only stretches of rivers as well as catch and release only on some lakes.Sport Fishing shows almost exclusively show catch and release. There is a chance any one of these fish can be injured, but almost all of them survive no worse for ware.The limit on a catch and release only fish is zero. Are you going to give someone a ticket because the fish is accidentally injured?
My buddy says I have t stop fishing after I catch my limit, I say I can keep fishing but just cant keep anymore! who is right?
technically yes, you are done fishing for that species the second the limit is reached. If you make a noticeable switch in gear or lures to target another species you would be fine. CO's wont believe ya much if you have 5 eyes on the ice, and now claim to be targeting perch with the same lures and no perch to show for it though. If you had switched over to teardrops, it'd be much more believable. Lots is left to the discretion of the officers.
It's a fishing license. Nothing illegal with catch and release. Add long as fish are alive you can upgrade fish. It's when your possession goes over the possession limit that you get into trouble. Simply catch and release after teaching your limit.
Broken,You must have missed the rest of the thread? Your advice, as logic as it sounds, WILL result in our fellow sportsmen getting tickets.
There are postings with represenatatives from the DNR saying just the opposite on this thread.......and from my experience you can catch and immediately release with a limit in your posession......We do it every weekend.....I would be willing to bet most of the charters out there do the same thing once their clients have boated their limits...
We cull fish with the limit in the boat every week in Bass and Walleye tournaments......Just as has been pointed out a few times as long as you immediately release the over fish you are good....The DNR works closely with Tournament organizations so it is a pretty well known that anglers are culling fish with limits in their boats.......It's common sense....
Sounds like in MI you're OK. In WI if you have your daily bag you're done. DNR tickets lots of folks fishing after their daily bag has been met or catching them "double dipping" by leaving the water with their limit and returning the same day to pound some more.... In WI if we want to keep fishing we have to leave our daily bag "1 short".
that response from the DNR was sent from a Biologist, not enforcement unit, which will be the ones writing said ticket and make the determination on how the law reads.